Who makes the most money in NFL before Russell Wilson?

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As Russell Wilson reached his four-year, 140-million-U.S.-dollar contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, the two sides set a new record for annual salary (35 million U.S. dollars) in the NFL history. CGTN has wrapped up a list of the league's top 10 paid players before Wilson.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, 19.2 million U.S. dollars

Peyton Manning of NFL's Denver Broncos /VCG Photo

When Manning arrived in Denver in March, 2012, he brought the city hope. Soon the Broncos gave him a five-year, 96-million-U.S.-dollar contract, which understandably raised some doubt because the team were offering such a big contract to a 36-year-old quarterback who sat out the whole 2011 season for an injury.

However, the truth was, under Manning's leading, Denver made the playoffs in the following season, appeared at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 before winning the Super Bowl championship on February 7, 2016. It's safe to say that Manning's worth every penny the Broncos spent on him.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 20.1 million U.S. dollars

Joe Flacco of NFL's Baltimore Ravens /VCG Photo

Having helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, Flacco had more than enough leverage to negotiate with the team's management for a good contract. As a result, Baltimore singed a six-year, 120.6-million-U.S.-dollar deal with Flacco in the same year.

The contract turned out to be a failed investment because in the following years, Flacco only led the Raven to the playoffs once in 2014. Ironically, after he go inured in the 2018 season, the team replaced Flacco with one-year rookie Lamar Jackson and entered the playoffs. No wonder Baltimore chose to send Flacco to the Broncos.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers, 21 million U.S. dollars

Colin Kaepernick of NFL's San Francisco 49ers /VCG Photo

In 2015, the 49ers offered Kaepernick a six-year, 126-million-U.S.-dollar contract but in that season, they fell into slump as their defense fell apart. However, in 2016 season, Kaepernick began to kneel down during the U.S. national anthem before every game to protest against African-American deaths caused by law enforcement. This move put both him and the team at the center of various public debates.

In March, 2017, Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract with the 49ers and remained unsigned since then.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, 23.3 million U.S. dollars

Andrew Luck of NFL's Indianapolis Colts /VCG Photo

Before he joined the NFL in 2012, Luck was listed as one of "the most hyped amateurs in recent sports memory" along with LeBron James and Bryce Harper. In his rookie season, Luck led the Colts to the playoffs and make the AFC Championship Game in 2014. Though Luck only played seven games in the 105 season thanks to injury, the Colts signed a six-year, 140-million-U.S.-dollar deal with him the next year.

So far, it's hard to tell if this contract is worth it. On one hand, Indianapolis only won eight games in the 2016 season because Luck did not have competitive teammates. He also missed the whole 2017 season. On the other hand, Luck came back last year and helped the Colts make the playoffs again. It will depend on the team's future moves on the market to decide whether they made the right decision in 2016.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders, 25 million U.S. dollars

Derek Carr of NFL's Oakland Raiders /VCG Photo

In his third season with the Raiders, Carr exploded in offense as he claimed 3,937 yards in passing and 28 touchdowns in 15 games, helping the team return to the playoffs in 14 years. Thanks to that, Oakland gave Carr a five-year, 125-million-U.S.-dollar contract in 2017.

Nonetheless, the Raiders had two disappointing seasons of respectively six wins and four wins after that. Currently, Carr's fate is not in his hands but related to the team's decision in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, 27 million U.S. dollars

Matthew Stafford of NFL's Detroit Lions /VCG Photo

Stafford joined the Lions in 2009 as the savior because the team just became the first zero-win franchise in the NFL history one year ago. Fairly speaking, Stafford met what's expected of him and led Detroit make the playoffs in 2011, 2014 and 2016, which's why the Lions signed a five-year, 135-million-U.S.-dollar deal with him in 2017.

However, Detroit has been seen as a weak team for a reason. Chaotic management and lack of discipline always stood in their way of getting better. If the Lions wanted Stafford to do more, so must the rest of the team.

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers, 27.5 million U.S. dollars

Jimmy Garoppolo of NFL's San Francisco 49ers /VCG Photo

Garoppolo became known to the world when he replaced a suspended Tom Brady to help the New England Patriots win two games as the starting quarterback in 2016. Then in October, 2017, the 49ers brought him to San Francisco where he again helped the team win all the five games he played as the starter.

Then in February, 2018, the 49ers offered Garoppolo a five-year, 137.5-million-U.S.-dollar deal as he became a free agent. Nonetheless, he only played three games before saying goodbye to the remainder of the 2018 season. The good news is that he's only 27 years old and still has the chance to prove himself.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings, 28 million dollars

Kirk Cousins of NFL's Minnesota Vikings /VCG Photo

Unlike other top salary players, Cousins only got a three-year contract from the Vikings but his deal was fully guaranteed, which's extremely rare in the league.

However, just like himself in the 2017 season with the Washington Redskins, Cousins continued his disgraceful playstyle: he focused on getting great numbers in games against weak opponents and acted like he's not there in front of strong teams. In their last game against the Chicago Bears, the Vikings lost 24-10, giving away their pocketed playoff spot to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cousins' contract was not long but it will not be easy for Minnesota to get rid of it.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 30 million U.S. dollars

Matt Ryan of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons /VCG Photo

Having reached a five-year, 103-million-U.S.-dollar deal with the Falcons in 2013, Ryan remained as on of the league's best quarterbacks between 2013 and 2017. During that period, he achieved over 4,000 passing yards and more than 20 touchdowns on average per season. In 2016, even won the MVP and led Atlanta to Super Bowl LI.

In May, 2018, the Falcons extended his contract to a five-year, 150-million-U.S.-dollar one. Though the team lost nine games and missed the playoffs, it was more because of their unfortunate injuries with the defense team.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, 33.5 million U.S. dollars

Aaron Rodgers of the NFL's Green Bay Packers /VCG Photo

When the Packers decided to sign a four-year, 134-million-U.S.-dollar contract with Rogers in 2018, there were barely any doubt because he deserved it even with the incredible performance before that. Rodgers led his team to the playoffs for eight straight times before 2017, including winning Super Bowl XLV in 2011. To Green Bay, his name always comes along with the word "miracle."

It's true that Rodgers had a difficult season in 2018 with coach Mike McCarthy but they already replaced him with Matt LaFleur. Both Rodgers and the team believe he will prove that he's worth every penny of the deal as well as all those praising words for him.